Better Farming Brighter Future

Monsanto Better Farming Grants

In a commitment to working with farmers to continue to reduce agriculture’s impact on the environment, Monsanto supports the Better Farming grants program, aimed at increasing efficiency and sustainability on cotton farms.

Monsanto works with Cotton Australia to support farmers with two separate grants under the Better Farming program recognising that Australian cotton growers are continually striving to implement practices that both benefit the environment and produce the world’s highest quality cotton through Australia’s best management practice program, myBMP.

myBMP is a voluntary farm and environmental management system which provides practical tools for producing Australian cotton to the highest standard for areas including energy efficiency, water and pesticide management, biosecurity, soil health and work, health and safety. Through myBMP, all Australian cotton growers have access the industry’s best practice standards, which are fully supported by scientific research and development, resources and technical support.

Better Farming grants:

1. Monsanto myBMP Certification Grants

Monsanto will provide a $2000 (ex. GST) grant to growers who conduct an on-farm audit and achieve myBMP certification prior to 31 December, as confirmed by Cotton Australia.

2. Monsanto myBMP Bale Grants

Monsanto will pay eligible cotton growers a grant of $1 per bale (227 kg) for cotton lint that is produced from myBMP certified farms and where the grower has opted in to the myBMP Bale grant program via Cotton Australia.

Terms and conditions of the Monsanto Better Farming Grant Programs

Monsanto myBMP Certification Grants

Monsanto will provide a $2000 (ex. GST) grant to growers who conduct an on-farm audit and achieve myBMP certification prior to 31 December as confirmed by Cotton Australia.

Growers must be myBMP accredited by 31 December for automatic enrolment in the Monsanto grant program. Growers who undertake the myBMP certification audit are required to provide their Technology User Agreement (TUA) number for the current growing season to Cotton Australia for reconciliation purposes.

Incomplete or failed audits are not eligible for a Monsanto grant.

Growers are only eligible to receive a single $2000 (ex GST) grant per Trading Entity registered with Monsanto every 5 years, even if they have multiple farms or farm units on the same myBMP audit. The grant will only be paid on a ‘per my myBMP audit’ basis as the final step in the myBMP certification process.

Eligible Monsanto grants will be paid as a credit off the invoice of Monsanto Technology Fees to be invoiced by the nominated Technology Service Provider (TSP) as nominated on the TUA. Growers will receive the credit on their first invoice received in the cotton growing season as per the terms of their signed and executed TUA. If a grower does not plant cotton in the season, the grant will be reimbursed the following season cotton is grown. For the avoidance of doubt, grants will not be reimbursed as cash, cheque or EFT payment unless at Monsanto’s discretion.

For the purposes of verification and issuing of the Monsanto grant, the grower agrees that any information provided by or on behalf of the grower may be shared amongst Monsanto and Cotton Australia to perform and administer the grant program. Growers may request a copy of the personal information stored by Cotton Australia or Monsanto for the purpose of this program.

By participating in the myBMP program you agree to receive communications about the Monsanto Better Farming grant programs from Monsanto.

Monsanto myBMP Bale grants

Monsanto will pay eligible cotton growers a grant of $1 per bale (227 kg) for cotton lint that is produced from myBMP certified farms and where the grower has opted in to the myBMP Bale grant program via Cotton Australia.

Only cotton produced from farms with current myBMP certification between 26 February and 29 July in the year of harvest is eligible for the grant.

Cotton growers must complete a Monsanto myBMP Bale Grant opt in form and return it to the myBMP office by 26 February 2019 and be verified to have paid full levies to Cotton Australia. Visit http://cottonaustralia.com.au/cotton-growers/mybmp for more information

Grant payments

The myBMP office provides a collated summary of eligible businesses/farms to Monsanto.